NAFTA: Agricultural Leaders Discuss Trade

CANADA, MEXICO & US - Canada's Minister of Agriculture says he and his US and Mexican counterparts share a commitment to maintaining open and transparent markets so trade can continue to grow, Bruce Cochrane writes.

Canada's Agriculture Minister met this week with his US and Mexican counterparts as part of trilateral meetings in Savannah, Georgia to discuss trade.

Lawrence MacAulay says there were certainly no ill feelings expressed among the three representatives and he is hopeful that spirit of cooperation will continue as discussions related to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) move forward.

Lawrence MacAulay-Canada-Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

There seems to be an approach from all three sides to make sure that we keep this on a very positive note, always understanding that there will always be irritant ants but there's absolutely no question the three of us sitting down understood that we have a great package in place.

The statement was made, let's not destroy something or change something that has been very valuable but tweak it, what ever needs to be done.

That will be discussed as we sit down and when our negotiators sit down.

I know from the agricultural side, from yesterday's discussions that there's certainly a very positive view from the three representatives.

It was stated quite clearly at the meeting that we don't want to fix something that's not broken.

Those were basically the exact words that were said.

That pleases me very much and I think it would please our farmers across Canada in particular and in North America because it's been a major asset to our country and it will continue to be a major asset to our country.

Mr MacAulay says there is a recognition among all three representatives of the value of NAFTA to the agricultural economy and the economy as a whole.

He acknowledges, while there were no specific statements as to what will be dealt with during the NAFTA renegotiation, Canada will be pushing to retain a fair and open playing field.